How it Works

What does a NOAA weather buoy 3000 miles away in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean have to do with snow in Utah, Colorado & Wyoming? Good question! Since the dawn of time, humans have been trying to plan their powder days, a futile feat… until now. Is it magic? Is it science? Is it dumb luck? The answer may be yes to all of the above, but more than anything, the Powderbuoy is all about a positive vibration and energy that connects soul riders around the world.

““Yeahbuuuuooooyyyyyy””

- William Jonathan Drayton Jr.

It All Starts With the Buoy

Deep in the North Pacific, a lonely NOAA buoy floats, diligently collecting all sorts of weather data. No friends on a powder day? This lonely buoy may think its only friends are the passing birds who may stop by for a few; little does the buoy know how much happiness and joy it brings to people around the world on powder days.

Weather Prediction

Tracking buoys is nothing new; surfers have followed buoys since Gary Busey was dropping in on Big Wednesday to find out when swells are going to hit specific breaks. The Powderbuoy uses these same NOAA buoys in Hawaii and tracks the same energy that surfers ride in waves in Hawaii to forecast snow that we ride in our mountains. When the buoy pops, two weeks later you’re going to want to clear your calendar.

Plan Your Powder Flu

Don’t let those sick days go to waste, plan your flu and go get you some! That TPS report can wait for another day, you’ve got powder to ski. Yeahbuoy!

Go to the Buoy Dashboard

From the Blog

Powderbuoy Pilsner

Proceeds from Powderbuoy Pilsner sales go to the Utah Avalanche Center (Provided by Park City [...]

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In 2004 a friend of mine who lived part of the year in Hawaii and [...]

How do I interpret the plume data (Blue line graph)?

The Atmospheric Sciences Department at the University of Utah is one of the best, if [...]

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From Instagram

The Golden Road to Unlimited devotion. This is why we don’t want it to snow yet, just sayin’ #yeahbuoy

The Golden Road to Unlimited devotion. This is why we don’t want it to snow yet, just sayin’ #yeahbuoy ...

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Hey now! Today is the day, and a beautiful one at that! Come on down to the Park City Brewery to kick off this 24/25 season and hang with some friends, meet new friends, and raise some money for the Utah Avalanche Center. We’ve got some great auction items, weather will be perfect, if you want to get a leaf peepin’ ride in, just ride to the party, problem solved. Music, legit auction items, food, bevvys, good peeps, all in one spot and all for a great cause, see you there. Link for tix is in profile above 👆

Hey now! Today is the day, and a beautiful one at that! Come on down to the Park City Brewery to kick off this 24/25 season and hang with some friends, meet new friends, and raise some money for the Utah Avalanche Center. We’ve got some great auction items, weather will be perfect, if you want to get a leaf peepin’ ride in, just ride to the party, problem solved. Music, legit auction items, food, bevvys, good peeps, all in one spot and all for a great cause, see you there. Link for tix is in profile above 👆 ...

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Fired up for Thursday night, we are going to raise this much money! Join me at the park city brewery for the powder buoy powder party (could probably come up with a better name), regardless, it’s a fun night for a great cause. The Utah avalanche center is the epicenter of snow info for Utah and a vital resource for our community. If you follow the buoy, please consider coming or donating. This event is my agreement with park city brewing for them to use the powderbuoy name for their Pilsner beer. They’ll be releasing new 16oz cans that night, we’ve got live music, and a bunch of great auction items from sponsors and partners/ friends in the ski world and otherwise. See you Thursday, tix are available on the link in my profile. #yeahbuoy #knowbeforeyougo

Fired up for Thursday night, we are going to raise this much money! Join me at the park city brewery for the powder buoy powder party (could probably come up with a better name), regardless, it’s a fun night for a great cause. The Utah avalanche center is the epicenter of snow info for Utah and a vital resource for our community. If you follow the buoy, please consider coming or donating. This event is my agreement with park city brewing for them to use the powderbuoy name for their Pilsner beer. They’ll be releasing new 16oz cans that night, we’ve got live music, and a bunch of great auction items from sponsors and partners/ friends in the ski world and otherwise. See you Thursday, tix are available on the link in my profile. #yeahbuoy #knowbeforeyougo ...

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There’s snow in them thar hills! #yeahbuoy

There’s snow in them thar hills! #yeahbuoy ...

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Snow is incoming, Just in time for the **Powder Buoy Powder Party**! 

Join us for an epic night of live music, sick auction items (Armada, DPS, Ski Utah, OnX, Warehouse, Spinner Fall Fly Fishing, UOP, and many more), killer food & drinks — all to support the **Utah Avalanche Center**, a vital resource for keeping our mountain community safe. 🏔️

📅 Sept 26th 
📍Park City Brewery

This is your chance to come together with your people and raise money for a cause that protects those of us who live for powder days! 

Let’s celebrate the snow, party with purpose, and support the Utah Avalanche Center in its mission to keep us informed and prepared in the backcountry. 🙌

🎟️ Tickets available in link above or in story or at https://store.utahavalanchecenter.org/collections/events-1/products/2024-powder-buoy-powder-party

#yeahbuoy #UtahAvalancheCenter #PowderParty #knowbeforeyougo

Snow is incoming, Just in time for the **Powder Buoy Powder Party**!

Join us for an epic night of live music, sick auction items (Armada, DPS, Ski Utah, OnX, Warehouse, Spinner Fall Fly Fishing, UOP, and many more), killer food & drinks — all to support the **Utah Avalanche Center**, a vital resource for keeping our mountain community safe. 🏔️

📅 Sept 26th
📍Park City Brewery

This is your chance to come together with your people and raise money for a cause that protects those of us who live for powder days!

Let’s celebrate the snow, party with purpose, and support the Utah Avalanche Center in its mission to keep us informed and prepared in the backcountry. 🙌

🎟️ Tickets available in link above or in story or at https://store.utahavalanchecenter.org/collections/events-1/products/2024-powder-buoy-powder-party

#yeahbuoy #UtahAvalancheCenter #PowderParty #knowbeforeyougo
...

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And so it begins…..welcome to 24-25 season. Just in time to get things teased up and exciting for the UAC party at the Park City Brewery on Sept 26th. More info to come, but will be a great time for a great cause! #yeahbuoy.

And so it begins…..welcome to 24-25 season. Just in time to get things teased up and exciting for the UAC party at the Park City Brewery on Sept 26th. More info to come, but will be a great time for a great cause! #yeahbuoy. ...

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A little nip in the air, ski movie trailers coming out, that means one thing, ski season is around the corner. As anyone who follows knows, I’m a big fan of the Utah Avalanche Center for all they do to keep us all informed and safe so we know before we go. This will be the 4th or 5th (I can’t remember) fundraiser we’ve done for @utavy and I invite you to come join us on Sept 26th for a great time. We raised over $30k last year, hoping to beat that number this year! Thank you @parkcitybrewing for hosting, and pouring Powderbuoy Pilsners, amongst other bevy’s as well. More info to come, but get some tix, get it on your calendar, and come have a good time. Link to buy tix is in profile above 👆#yeahbuoy

A little nip in the air, ski movie trailers coming out, that means one thing, ski season is around the corner. As anyone who follows knows, I’m a big fan of the Utah Avalanche Center for all they do to keep us all informed and safe so we know before we go. This will be the 4th or 5th (I can’t remember) fundraiser we’ve done for @utavy and I invite you to come join us on Sept 26th for a great time. We raised over $30k last year, hoping to beat that number this year! Thank you @parkcitybrewing for hosting, and pouring Powderbuoy Pilsners, amongst other bevy’s as well. More info to come, but get some tix, get it on your calendar, and come have a good time. Link to buy tix is in profile above 👆#yeahbuoy ...

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Best storm of the summer…so far. The show must go on #yeahbuoy

Best storm of the summer…so far. The show must go on #yeahbuoy ...

395 6
Really outdoing yourself tonight Mother Nature, double rainbow then lightning show! Not a bad night for some Pink Floyd #yeahbuoy

Really outdoing yourself tonight Mother Nature, double rainbow then lightning show! Not a bad night for some Pink Floyd #yeahbuoy ...

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Cheers to summer and the days between. Cheers to amazing friends with us today and those who have moved to the other side. May the four winds always blow you safely home. #yeahbuoy

Cheers to summer and the days between. Cheers to amazing friends with us today and those who have moved to the other side. May the four winds always blow you safely home. #yeahbuoy ...

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Some wicked stripaaaah fishing last weekend. #yeahbuoy

Some wicked stripaaaah fishing last weekend. #yeahbuoy ...

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Did anyone else just see this? It disappeared at the end with a cloud of fog or something. Stars were clear, this had a fog around it.

Did anyone else just see this? It disappeared at the end with a cloud of fog or something. Stars were clear, this had a fog around it. ...

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Mind blower at the sphere tonight complete w some rad skiing during drums & space. Nicely done @chrisbenchetler and others. #Yeahbuoy

Mind blower at the sphere tonight complete w some rad skiing during drums & space. Nicely done @chrisbenchetler and others. #Yeahbuoy ...

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I thought I was hanging it up for the season, but what the hell, game on! #yeahbuoy

I thought I was hanging it up for the season, but what the hell, game on! #yeahbuoy ...

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Ski ya later! Ski culture never dies! 🌭 #yeahbuoy

Ski ya later! Ski culture never dies! 🌭 #yeahbuoy ...

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